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The Illinois
Department of Transportation (IDOT) will be sending notice to their
contractors to stop all construction and prepare to make construction work
zones safe for a possible “long-term” shut down by June 30. This road
construction shut down is due to the lack of a state budget and an
appropriation
to fund work after July 1.
This will impact several large projects in Lake County where
federal funding is administered by IDOT:
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Washington Street Grade Separation (LCDOT Project)
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Deerfield Road – in the Village of Deerfield
and City of Highland Park (Municipal & LCDOT Project)
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Grand Avenue at US 41 in the Village of Gurnee (IDOT Project)
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IL Route 59 at Petite Lake Road intersection
improvement and resurfacing (IDOT Project)
LCDOT will be working with resident engineers and contractors to
make sure that the roadways are as safe as possible for the traveling public.
Road construction projects that are locally funded will continue as scheduled.
For information about any of
the projects in the 2017 Construction Program, view our interactive construction
map.
Assessment notices
have been sent out for Antioch Township. Notices will continue to be mailed to
other townships in Lake County through August.
What is A Property Assessment?
It may
help to think of the property tax process like a pie. Taxing bodies, including
school districts, villages and the county (and many other taxing districts)
determine how much they need to collect in taxes. That determines the size
of the pie, and the property assessment determines how the pie is cut up.
The assessment process ensures property taxes are fairly distributed. Elected
township assessors are primarily responsible for appraising properties and
determining a property’s value, which ultimately determines the portion of the
total tax burden (or piece of the pie). If you have questions or concerns regarding the assessed value of your
property, you should discuss this with your
local township assessor’s office.
 Understand Your Property Assessment
Get free, one-on-one assistance with evaluating your assessment at tax assessment help centers. These are listed on your blue assessment notice, too. Watch this video to learn more about the help centers.
Taxpayer advocates are also available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Chief County Assessment Office, 18 N. County Street, 7th Floor, Waukegan.
Should You Appeal Your Property Assessment?
View the five steps to determining if you should appeal your property assessment.
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 Filing an Appeal? Use our Online System
Our quick and convenient Online Appeal Filing System allows
you to get your appeal information to the Board of Review without the hassle of
mailing or hand delivering them to the Chief County Assessment Office in
Waukegan. Watch
this video to learn more about the process to file an appeal online.
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 Protect your dog and family from ticks! Dogs love to roll around in the
grass, jump in brush and walk in wooded areas – ALL places ticks may live. Watch this video to
find out the proper way to check and remove ticks from you dog from Heidi
Johnson, who works in Animal Care and Control for the Lake County Health
Department and Community Health Center.
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 If an
emergency should occur, do you know how to protect your furry, scaly or
feathered friends? In observance of National Pet Preparedness Month, this is a perfect
opportunity to plan for your pet’s safety. Visit FEMA’s Pet and Animal Emergency
Planning web page to find tips on making a pet emergency plan, preparing shelter,
and tips for large animals.
One important
way to keep your pet safe is to keep the vaccinations up to date. The Lake
County Health Department provides pet vaccination clinics, a low-cost,
convenient way to keep pet’s shots and rabies tags up to date. The next clinic will be held June 24 in Lake Villa. View
upcoming clinic dates and cost.
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 Lake County will now get 25 percent of its electricity from
“Green power” or electricity from renewable resources, such as solar, wind, and
geothermal. This is an additional 20 percent from its previous electricity rate
contract. Green energy has proved to be environmentally preferable to
electricity generated from conventional sources, including coal, oil, natural
gas, and nuclear. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on
average, replacing each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of traditional power with renewable
power avoids the emission of more than one pound of carbon dioxide, a key
greenhouse gas. Lake County will purchase 9.98 million renewable energy kWH(h)
under this contract, which is the equivalent of more than 15 million
pounds of carbon dioxide. Lake County has received an Environmental Stewardship
Certificate for its commitment to investing in green energy.
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Each year, an independent professional audit of Lake
County’s finances is completed. The audit firm of Baker Tilly recently issued a
“clean opinion” for the latest audit, which is the highest opinion
available.
The county board has a strong
track record of practicing fiscal responsibility. Lake County consistently has
a balanced budget, and for 20 years, it has maintained Triple A credit rating
from both Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s – the highest rating possible. Only
one other county in Illinois, and about 60 counties in the U.S have this
coveted rating (out of more than 3,000) from both of these rating agencies.
Additionally, the County has received the Government Finance Officers
Association (GFOA) award for “Excellence in Financial Reporting” for the last
two decades for the Audit, and the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
for the past decade for the annual budget document. The recent audit, along
with the credit rating and GFOA awards, collectively show Lake County is
financially sound.
 Forest Preserve News
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Little Sprouts: Planting a Seed
Help plant the garden at Bonner Heritage Farm in Lindenhurst and sow seeds to take home. Join us down on the farm for fun and frolicking on select Wednesdays through October. The next program will be June 28. Get to know families while kids enjoy stories, hands-on activities and crafts. Learn more
 Gateways
Grants Open the Door for Schools
As budgets
shrink, field trips are increasingly out of reach for Lake County schools,
especially in low-income communities. Since 1991, Gateways Grants have made
field trips possible for tens of thousands of students. They benefit from
“school” in outdoor and museum settings, where learning is experiential and
profound. School districts with a low-income population of 40 percent or more
are eligible. Gateways Grants cover program fees and provide a bus stipend.
Donations fully fund this program. Our goal is to raise $5,000 in Gateways
Grants by the start of the school year. Help make field trips possible.
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Eat
Healthful Produce and Support Local Youth
Shop at the Green Youth Farm of Lake County market, which is open from
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 12. Purchase fresh and nutritious
organic vegetables, herbs, honey, and more, grown in Greenbelt Forest Preserve
in North Chicago by area students. Learn more |
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The William G. Stratton Lock and Dam on the Fox River in McHenry will resume full-time daily operations for the remainder of the 2017 boating season beginning June 28. From June 28 through Sept. 30, the Stratton lock tenders will operate the facility seven days a week from 8 a.m. until midnight. Then from Oct. 1 to 31, operating hours will be 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily. The lock is closed for the season each year Nov. 1 to April 30. Learn more
 Individuals who
struggle with substance abuse can get directed quickly to treatment through a
pilot program called “A Way Out." The program is offered 24 hours a day,
365 days a year at participating police departments in Lake County.
Individuals, who possess narcotics or paraphernalia, enter a participating
police department and tell an officer they are requesting help will avoid
criminal charges if the participant seeks assistance. Watch
this video to learn more about the “A Way Out” program.
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First-time,
non-violent offenders now can keep a conviction from being permanently entered
on their record by participating in the Misdemeanor Alternative Prosecution Program.
The program holds offenders accountable and addresses the needs of crime
victims, but also gives deserving defendants a second chance and the
opportunity to avoid being labeled a convicted criminal. Learn more
 Summer is the time for picnics, warmer weather, and salespeople
at your front door. Solicitors seeking door-to-door purchases or orders are
required to comply with a County Board adopted ordinance when working in
unincorporated Lake County.
Each solicitor must:
- Appear in person and register annually with the County
Clerk’s office. Registration is free. View the Solicitor Registration Information and Application web page.
- Work only between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- Carry his/her own Certificate of Registration bearing the
salesperson’s name, employer’s name, manufacturer’s name, type of business,
and an embossed seal.
- Observe “No Solicitation” signs.
- Respect occupant’s request if asked to leave.
Residents should ask to see the vendor’s certificate
and report any violations to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 847-549-5200
where fines and penalties can be enforced.
This ordinance applies
only to unincorporated Lake County and provides exemptions for religious
groups, candidates, and minors under age 18 who participate in fundraising
activities. If you live within municipal or village borders, check with your
local officials for your specific ordinances.
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Enjoy farmers markets, summer concerts in Antioch
Check out fresh fruits, vegetables and more from 3 to 7 p.m. every Thursday as Antioch hosts it farmers markets downtown. Then, enjoy live music as part of the summer concert series. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. from mid-June through mid-August. All concerts will be held at the William E. Brook Memorial Entertainment Center. Learn more
Join next Concert in the Park
Listen to Wedding Banned as part of the Concert in the Parks series at 7 p.m. tonight at Lehmann Park. Learn more about the series, including all upcoming shows.
Sign up to learn what's happening in Antioch and Lake Villa Townships
Thank you to all my readers for subscribing to receive my County Board Member newsletter and keeping informed about all that is happening in District 1 and Lake County. You also can find information about services available and upcoming events from Antioch and Lake Villa townships. Sign up to receive Antioch Township's e-newsletter. Sign up to receive Lake Villa Township's e-newsletter.
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